Sprint today announced the release date and pricing for the highly anticipated HTC EVO 4G LTE. The company will start selling the Android smartphone on Friday, May 18. It will cost $199.99 with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes). Pre-order began May 7 at www.sprint.com/evo4glte We will bring you a review of the HTC EVO 4G LTE of course. In the mean time, here is more info:

HTC EVO 4G LTE is built on Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, integrated with HTC Sense 4. It focuses on exceptional improvements in camera technology, audio and voice quality on both the network and device.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is Sprint's first device with HTC's Authentic Sound experience integrating Beats Audio. The technology enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Beats Audio is enabled across the entire phone experience, including playing music stored on the device, streaming from a favorite service, watching a movie or YouTube video, or playing the latest hot game.

HTC EVO 4G LTE boasts brilliant features, including a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, future HD voice capabilities, 2000mAh embedded battery and 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras. It is powered by the Snapdragon S4 processor by Qualcomm, delivering best-in-class performance and a power efficient platform for exceptionally long battery life. HTC EVO 4G LTE brings back the fan-favorite kickstand built into the smartphone's refined, slim design.

Sprint recently announced Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are expected to have 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service in mid-year. The anticipated launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Sprint customers in these areas will soon enjoy ultra-fast data speeds and improved 3G voice quality. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE